Samantha Franco

Samantha Franco is a content writer with a BA and MA in history, focusing on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history. She has written content for multiple sites covering an array of historical topics.

Articles by Samantha Franco:

Fritz X: The World’s First Precision-Guided Missile Took Out the Italian Navy’s Flagship

Fritz X on display

The Fritz X was a German radio-guided anti-ship missile that went by many names: Ruhrstahl SD 1400 X, PC 1400X, Kramer X-1 and FX 1400.…

The Second Battle of Fort Wagner Proved the 54th Infantry Regiment Had the Chops

Still from 'Glory'

The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment proved their bravery and courage in fighting against Confederate forces at Fort Wagner.

Lost Cosmonauts: The Supposed Victims of the Soviet Union’s Space Endeavors

Space scene + Yuri Gagarin wearing a spacesuit

During the 1960s, rumors circulated that the Soviet Union had been sending people to space long before they announced their first successful launch. Experiments frequently…

The Tragic Story Behind One Man’s Refusal to Salute the Führer

Blohm+Voss employees performing the German salute, while August Landmesser stands with his arms crossed over his chest + August Landmesser standing with his arms crossed

Among the rows of men saluting the Führer in an infamous photo dating back to July 1936, one individual is seen standing, arms crossed, daring…

Tommies: Did the Endearing Term for British Soldiers Actually Originate During WWI?

Three British "Tommies" sitting together in uniform

The term “Tommies” is most closely associated with British soldiers who served during the First World War. However, where and how did the nickname originate?…

John R Fox Ordered An Artillery Barrage On His Own Position to Save His Comrades

US artillerymen manning an artillery battery + Military portrait of John R Fox

In one of the greatest acts of bravery seen during the Second World War, John R Fox ordered an artillery barrage on his own position…

PBRs: The US Navy’s Small and Nimble Watercraft In Vietnam

Still from 'Apocalypse Now'

The Patrol Boat, River – commonly known as PBR – was a nimble, speedy riverboat commissioned by the US Navy, for use during the Vietnam…

The Plumbing Disaster That Led to the Sinking of U-1206

Toilet onboard the HMS Alliance (P147) + Painting of a U-boat being sunk at sea

During the later years of the Second World War, the German U-boat U-1206 was cruising silently off the coast of Scotland. It was one of…

Pave Low: Converting Search and Rescue Helicopters for Use In Special Ops

Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low in flight

Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Lows had the ability to perform both search and rescue and special operations missions. “Pave” stands for “Precision Avionics Vectoring Equipment,” the…

Pardo’s Push Saved the Lives of Two Men, But Wasn’t Recognized for Decades

John "Bob" Pardo standing with his arms crossed + McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in flight

Capt. John R. “Bob” Pardo was assigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, which attacked an integral North Vietnamese steel mill.…

Dwight D. Eisenhower Took Extra Measures to Ensure the Holocaust Was Never Forgotten

Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Patton standing with other US military officials + Exterior of Ohrdruf concentration camp

Dwight D. Eisenhower viewed firsthand the crimes that were committed by the Germans at concentration camps when he visited the newly-liberated Ohrdruf during the Second…

The Laconia Incident Took More Lives Than the Sinking of the Titanic

Survivors of the Laconia Incident standing on the top decks of the U-156 and U-507

During the Second World War, an incident occurred that appeared to make the Germans the heroes and paint the Americans in a bad light. While…